Aaron Judge Hits 62nd Homer! Sets New ‘Clean’ Record! Texas 5 NY 4

October 5, 2022 paperbacklou 2022 0

Aaron Judge hit a BOMB to left on the 3rd pitch of the ballgame for his 62nd homer of the season, breaking Roger Maris‘ record and becoming the All Time single-season Homerun King in the American League, as well as establishing the new “Clean” record for most Homers in a single season in Major League History.

Finally, the wait and the pressure were over. Judge came up a 2nd time in the 2nd, and then was pulled from the game by manager Aaron Boone. Judge could be seen in the dugout for the rest of the game, visibly relaxed and enjoying the moment.

“It’s a big relief,” said Judge afterwards. “I think everyone can finally sit down in their seats and watch the ballgame.”

Judge added: “It’s been a fun ride so far — getting a chance to do this. with the team we got, the guys surrounding me, the constant support from my family who’ve been with me through this whole thing, it’s been a great honor. And also Roger Maris Jr and his family, supporting and being along for the ride too — congratulations to them to for their constant support through this whole process. I know it’s a tough situation; your dad’s legacy; you want to uphold that. Getting a chance to have my name next to someone as great as Roger Maris and Babe Ruth is incredible.”

Meanwhile Gerrit Cole broke Ron Guidry‘s all-time Yankee record for most strikeouts in a season — but had another start plagued by the gopher ball — coughing up a 2-run homer to Leody Taveras in the 5th that cost the Yankees the game.

In Minnesota, Luis Arraez finally played after sitting out 2 games with a hamstring injury that kept his batting average at .315. Arraez went 1-4 to keep his average at .315.

The loss put the Yanks at … get this .. 99-62. Entering the game they were 99-61. Cosmic. This was the second game of a day-night double header in Texas — the Yankees having won the afternoon game 5-4.

With the results of other games, it was established that the Yankees will face the winner of the Cleveland-Tampa Bay Wild Card series in the ALDS.

1. Judge = All-Time Single-Season Homerun King

The 2nd game of this day-night doubleheader in Texas began at 8pm EST. If you were napping — you missed Judge’s homer — he hit a 1-1 pitch — the 3rd pitch of the game for a BOMB to left for the record breaker.

Here’s another view:

The John Sterling call:

Jesus Tinoco — a 27-year old, 6’4 righty — gave up the homer. Tinoco is in his 4th MLB season, having spent time with Colorado and Miami before Texas. Tinoco was the ‘Opener” on a bullpen day for Texas — the starter for the game was TBA as early as the morning of the game.

Tinoco will always have the moment — to tell his grandkids 40 years from now.

Tinoco left after the 1 inning, relieved by Kolby Allard who pitched through the 5th.

Judge struck out against Allard and was removed from the game — his average at the time .310 to Arraez .316 (as Arraez was 1 for his first 2 in his game).

Roger Maris Jr gave Judge compliments and echoed that Judge now had the Clean Record:

2. Giancarlo HR in Judge’s Shadow

Cole immediately gave up the lead Judge gave him in the bottom of the 1st: Marcus Semien singled, stole 2nd, and scored on a single by Adolis Garcia.

But Giancarlo Stanton put the Yanks back on top 2-1 with a 420-foot BOMB to center.

3. Cole and the Gopher Ball

Cole immediately coughed up the 2-1 lead Giancarlo gave him in the bottom of the 5th, with the 2-run homer to Taveras.

Cole pitched 6 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs — a ‘quality start’. He struck out 9 and walked nobody.

“If you look at the box score tomorrow morning, you’ll think that Cole pitched a great game. 9 strikeouts; no walks. But I can bet you Cole will be unhappy with himself,” said Jeff Nelson on the radio — former Yankee relief ace and current radio analyst temporarily replacing Suzyn Waldman who was observing Tosh Hashanah.

But Yankee fans will say otherwise.

Cole allowing the homer to Taveras seemed to suck the life out of the game for the Yankees; they were out of comebacks.

Cole took the loss to go 13-8 3.50 on the year. Considering Ron Guidry had one of the greatest single-season pitching years ever when he set the Yankee strikeout record (25-3 1.74), Cole breaking the record seems ho-hum.

Afterwards, Ron Guidry called Gerrit Cole in the Yankee clubhouse to congratulate him.

4. Schmidt Pitched Great

Good news for the Yanks: Clarke Schmidt looked great again — pitching a shutout 7th and 8th inning both 1-2-3 innings. He struck out 2 of the last 3 batters in the 8th.

Down 3-2, the Yanks were out of comebacks — going out 1-2-3 in the 9th, with Aaron Hicks flying out for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401423205

 

 

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